The 05-23-2025 Edition of The Charlotte Weekly Matthews-Mint Hill

MATTHEWS – Town Manager Becky Hawke will be leaving her position effective June 12 to pursue another professional opportunity, according to the Town of Matthews.

Hawke has served as town manager since April 2022. Prior to that, she served as assistant town manager for over six years.

“We are deeply grateful for Becky’s commitment to Matthews, her vision and her tireless work on behalf of our community,” Mayor John Higdon said. “In just a little over three years as manager, Becky achieved an impressive list of accomplishments. She helped move our town forward in meaningful and lasting ways. We wish her all the best in her next chapter, and she will be deeply missed.”

Some of her key accomplishments, according to town o cials, include:

• Led the town through a $35 million General Obligation Bond referendum – the rst in 18 years – to fund transportation and parks and recreation improvements.

• Forged partnerships with Hendrick Motorsports and Central Piedmont Community College that will bring high-paying advanced manufacturing jobs and a public

by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

MATTHEWS – Town Manager

Becky Hawke’s resignation surprised members of the Matthews Board of Commissioners. Some leaders expressed sadness after hearing the news. Others looked internally at how their actions may have influenced her decision.

Commissioners met for over an hour May 12 to hear and discuss Hawke’s recommended budget for next scal year After a short break, they reconvened for that evening’s regularly scheduled meeting. Hawke requested going into closed session to discuss a personnel matter.

The board returned from closed session to reveal that Hawke had offered her resignation, e ective June 12. Mayor John Higdon said Hawke had accepted a role with another organization.

Higdon said he considers Hawke a great professional colleague and a friend, having worked with her for nine years.

“She's been a de nite example of what a professional is,” Higdon said.

By John Hood Contributor

RALEIGH – Our state’s official seal presents North Carolina as a series of dualities. In the background of the circular emblem are green-topped mountains to the west and crystal-blue water to the east. In the foreground, two female figures in classical garb symbolize Liberty (clutching a constitution in one hand and the traditional “liberty cap” in the other) and Plenty (holding stalks of grain in one hand and an overflowing cornucopia in the other).

Printed below and above the scene are two dates. One is April 12, 1776. at’s when North Carolina’s Provincial Congress, meeting in the town of Halifax, voted to instruct its delegates in Philadelphia to support America’s formal independence from Great Britain. The other date — May 20, 1775 — is the subject of today’s column. It was 250 years ago this week that some two-dozen leaders of Mecklenburg County, then a lightly populated

safety training facility to Matthews in the coming years.

• Improved employee retention, reduced voluntary turnover and maintained higher retention rates over the past two years.

• Secured a AAA credit rating from both

“I've worked in a lot of corporate settings and she's among the best I've ever worked with. I’m very sad that she's leaving.”

Commissioner John Urban said he’s worked with a lot of town managers over the years. Urban said Hawke is equal to, if not exceeds, other town managers from other communities.

“She's astute, she learns very quickly, she holds her ground and she made all the decisions to the bene t of Matthews,” he said. Higdon mentioned how Hawke offered great advice to the board. While her predecessor would sometimes tell leaders, “I don’t think I’d do that,” Hawke’s approach was, “Let me suggest a better course of action.” Higdon said he would miss that.

“I'm sorry if we drove you away,”

Commissioner Leon Threatt told Hawke. “That wasn't the intent. I don't know what else to say. ank you.”

Mayor Pro Tem Gina Hoover said she was surprised by Hawke’s departure and was at a loss for words.

Hoover echoed reatt’s sentiments that she hoped the board didn’t run her o .

jurisdiction on North Carolina’s frontier, met to discuss longstanding grievances against the Parliament in London and King George III’s royal governors in New Bern.

Some of those grievances were widely shared across British America, including Parliament’s usurpation of scal powers traditionally exercised by colonial legislatures. But the settlers of Mecklenburg, mostly Scottish Presbyterians and German Protestants, had their own particular resentments.

One was deeply personal. According to a law they despised, only ministers of the Church of England could legally perform marriages. To the extent other ministers performed such ceremonies, they could be ned and any children produced by the resulting unions declared illegitimate (a status with both legal and social consequences).

Another grievance was communal.

For many years, Mecklenburg leaders sought a charter for a school. Having already named their county and its seat for the king’s wife, Charlotte of Mecklenburg, they proposed to call it Queen’s College. A bill to this e ect twice passed North Carolina’s

Leaders surprised by town manager’s resignation

“I know we've had di erences but we've always come back together” Hoover said. “I think that's a good relationship, good business. You can butt heads but then you still come together. But really I'm at a loss.”

Commissioner Renee Garner thanked Hawke for being a great leader and a great example.

“I think getting to work with you has changed the trajectory of my life in really meaningful and signi cant ways and that shows what kind of a leader you are,” Garner said. “I can appreciate your strength.”

She continued, “I forget working with people that they're human too and I forget that I need to stop and look inside what other people are going through or what other people are experiencing or that you are a human doing an incredibly hard job and you have done it exceptionally well.

“You have brought amazing things to Matthews and really stepped us into a new future for a town that was growing but I would say hadn't yet found its vision. You have given that to us and we should all be incredibly grateful for that.”

250 years of Meck Dec: Carolina patriots showed resolve

legislature only to be vetoed by King George, whose royal governors warned him that Presbyterians, not Anglicans, would dominate the faculty.

In 1775, the leaders of the Mecklenburg militia were Colonel omas Polk and Lieutenant Colonel Adam Alexander. ey requested that each of the county’s nine militia companies send two delegates to the new Committee of Safety convening on May 19. Along with a few additional leaders, they comprised the group that made history the following day.

Precisely what they did remains a matter of dispute. Years later, eyewitnesses testified that the committee declared formal independence from Great Britain. But the only contemporaneous document we have is the Mecklenburg Resolves, printed in a Wilmington newspaper and dated May 31, 1775.

When the delegates convened on May 19, they didn’t yet know a shooting war had broken out a month earlier in Massachusetts. ey knew only that the colonies needed governments

Matthews town manager is resigning

Moody’s and S&P for the rst time in the town’s history.

• Delivered Fire Station 3, the first municipal building project undertaken in Matthews in the last 20 years – on time, under budget and debt-free.

• Played a key role in establishing a partnership with Discovery Place Kids to bring a children’s museum to Matthews by 2029, and is working to secure a co-location of the museum with a new Matthews Elementary School that is expected to provide a 50% cost savings on the project.

“Matthews will always have a piece of my heart and serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” Hawke said. “Above all else, I’m proud of the incredible team of Matthews employees I’ve had the privilege to work alongside for the past nine years. Together, we’ve helped bring the town board’s vision for the community to life and have worked to deliver high quality services and amenities to Matthews residents and visitors. Leading them and helping foster a positive, supportive work environment where everyone has an opportunity to thrive has been one of my greatest joys. It is my sincere hope that Town leadership will continue to prioritize and respect sta contributions long into the future."

e Board of Commissioners will begin a nationwide search to identify a replacement.

Nonplayable character offers vampire hunters advice

by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

One of my favorite video games growing up was Castlevania. Before each level, the Nintendo game showed you a map of the terrain before dropping your vampire hunter into a pit of monsters.

I get the impression that elected leaders across the Charlotte region are thrown into level after level with a limited supply of daggers and no sense of where the game is leading them.

I mention this as Matthews commissioners unexpectedly learned May 12 that Becky Hawke would be resigning as town manager after three years. Commissioners now have to search for a new manager.

As a nonplayable character in this game, I want to o er unsolicited advice to the vampire hunters.

Commissioners ought to consider candidates that can frame nancial and planning discussions within the context of how they t within a bigger picture. Not everyone on a board is a nancial analyst or land-use expert. Newcomers may not be familiar with how local government works.

Let me offer a hypothetical scenario. Before commissioners decide on whether to invest millions of capital dollars into a pickleball stadium, they should be aware of how it will a ect operations. Such an amenity will require more sta , maintenance, electricity and other ongoing expenses.

And while a hypothetical pickleball stadium may not be enough to trigger a property tax rate increase on its own, commissioners may be confronted with other opportunities or problems over the course of a given year. What are these potential opportunities or problems?

Someone that keeps very close tabs on all these levers can save commissioners a lot of stress over time.

Let’s shift to a more realistic scenario for planning.

e Town of Matthews will soon embark on a small area plan for its Crestdale area.

We always hear at the onset of a new small area plan that these documents serve as merely a guide. But developers read every page of these documents and bring forward rezoning projects that align more with the guide than the actual zoning ordinances. en leaders are stuck between approving a rezoning project that neighbors hate or the threat of a potentially less desirable project that can be developed by right. How do we escape this quicksand?

Matthews leaders are not rubber-stampers. Commissioners engage in thoughtful – sometimes rowdy – discussion in front of the public. While that makes for longer, sometimes more intense meetings, constituents know where their representatives stand on issues.

Imagine how much more e ective they would be if they could anticipate just a few more steps ahead or have a greater understanding of how a decision made today will a ect taxpayers six months from now.

Am I throwing shots at people? Nah, bruh. I believe Town Manager Becky Hawke was the right hire for Matthews in 2022 and is leaving at an opportune time. Hawke has achieved several big wins as well as provided a framework for recently passed bond projects and future stormwater system upgrades. She timed her departure after the likely passing of the next fiscal year budget and right before a potentially divisive election campaign season starts.

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Maya Hotels celebrates three decades of hospitality

CHARLOTTE – Maya Hotels is celebrating its 30-year anniversary. e Charlotte-based hotel development and management company began with a single motel, a shared dream and rst-generation Indian American hoteliers who believed they could do it better together. at same spirit of resilience, partnership and purpose continues to guide

‘The

the company today. “ irty years ago, our fathers set out to create something meaningful. What started as one small motel has grown into a company built on care, culture and long-term purpose,” said Krishna Deva, CEO of Maya Hotels. “This milestone is a chance to honor their vision and rea rm our commitment to the people

and communities we serve.”

To mark this milestone, Maya Hotels will share stories, memories and moments from the past 30 years across its social media platforms throughout the year. A formal celebration will take place in December.

“Our story began with trust, shared values, and a belief in doing things the right way,” said Parimal

akor, President of Maya Hotels. “ at mindset still defines how we operate. We’ve grown by investing in people, leading with intention, and staying true to who we are. We’re proud of what we’ve built and inspired by what’s ahead.”

Maya Hotels owns and operates a growing portfolio of Hilton, Marriott, and IHG properties across the

Carolinas.

In 2024, Maya Hotels completed a second-generation leadership transition, with Deva and akor stepping into new roles. Under their guidance, the company continues to expand its portfolio, invest in training and technology and uphold the values that have guided Maya Hotels since the beginning.

Rest of Our Lives’ author to talk aging at The Ivey

CHARLOTTE – Aging is universal. It doesn’t matter whether we’re turning 30 or 60 or 80, each birthday takes us by surprise. We’re aging, but we’re also still the same, so says Charlotte author Judy Goldman. The messy, complicated questions we faced when we were young foreshadow the messy, complicated questions we come to grips with later in life.

House budget ups teacher pay, restores master’s pay, and gives a raise

By Alan Wooten Contributor

(The Center Square) – Starting teacher pay in North Carolina would rise to $50,000 annually, master’s pay for educators would be restored, and the raises for teachers over the next two years would be 8.7% if the state budget proposed by the House of Representatives becomes law.

Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, on May 19 gave his second tease in four days of the spending plan. The education spending highlights were top of his list, followed by a 2.5% across-theboard raise for state agency employees, community college sta and UNC System personnel.

“Talented educators should never have to leave their home in North Carolina to make a living,” said Rep. Erin Paré, R-Wake, a mother of two children in the largest (160,000 students) public school district in the state.

“Raising starting teacher pay to rst in the Southeast sends a clear message to our state’s future teachers: build your career, your family, and your legacy in North Carolina classrooms.”

Additionally, state retirees would get a 1% cost of living bonus in the rst year and 2% in the second.

e scal year starts July 1 and three proposals will matriculate through the negotiation stage.

Earlier, rst-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein unveiled a $67.9 billion plan on March 19, and the Senate passed a $65.9 billion plan that drew the backing of four Democrats in the Republican majority (30-20) chamber.

On May 19, Stein followed with an $891 million relief package for Hurricane Helene.

“We’re committed to investing

e Ivey is hosting a candid conversation with Goldman on June 2. e author’s latest work, “ e Rest of Our Lives,” is a memoir that explores the nature of time itself and will be the starting point for discussion at the event.

“Aging isn’t about losing who we are, it’s about holding on to love when everything else fades,” said Lynn Ivey, CEO and founder of e Ivey, the brain health and memory wellness center she established in 2008 to

in the people who invest in North Carolina,” Hall said. “From raising salaries for teachers and state employees to cutting taxes and slashing bureaucracy, we’re focused on getting the greatest return on North Carolinians’ hardearned tax dollars while putting more of those dollars back in their pockets.”

Already on Friday, Hall said the budget plan would exempt the first $5,000 in tips from state income tax and bring back in 2026 what is known as the back-to-school sales tax holiday.

e chamber leader said the House plan will send NCInnovation funding – it was $500 million in the 2023 budget – toward Helene relief and recovery.

e bill also:

• Increases the standard tax deduction by $500 for individuals and $1,000 for married couples.

• Holds growth of the net general fund expenditures to 5% over the two years.

• Restores what is commonly called the Rainy Day Fund to $4.75 billion.

Cuts nearly 3,000 vacant government positions.

• Cuts more than $10 million tied to state programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, colloquially called DEI.

• Funds new positions by the dozens at the Division of Motor Vehicles and authorizes a privatization pilot program for license renewal.

• Spends $50 million on school safety grants.

Appropriations Chairman William Brisson, R-Bladen, said, “Eliminating more than $10 million in DEI programs that are light on accountability and heavy on cost lets us focus our taxpayer dollars where they matter most: investing in the next generation of students and teachers.”

honor her parents. “I founded e Ivey so no one would have to face that journey alone.”

Love and relationships are central to Goldman’s eight award-winning books. She was born and raised in Rock Hill and lives in Charlotte.

In “ e Rest of Our Lives,” Goldman shares dispatches from the narrow section of our lives where we are brie y deposited before the end. We tend to regard old age as something foreign, alien, she writes, but really,

it echoes all the signi cant stages we passed through on our way from then to now, each bringing with it a fear of the unknown, as well as the exhilaration of trying out a new kind of existence.

e June 2 event will feature a conversation between Goldman and Jenny Yopp, director of strategic initiatives at e Ivey.

Want to go?

“Aging isn’t slowing down, it’s playing smarter,” says Yopp, who spent almost two decades as a collegiate basketball coach before joining e Ivey. “Every year adds wisdom to your playbook and purpose to your game. e clock might run, but the game is far from over.”

Planning for a positive economic future

The event starts at 6 p.m. June 2 at e Ivey, 6030 Park South Drive. Light bites and beverages will be served. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Tickets cost $25. Buy them at theivey.com/ register-now.

Financial literacy tips for teens

(Family Features) Financial literacy is a critical skill that helps set the foundation for a stable and prosperous future. By understanding the basics of money management, teens can make informed decisions and avoid common financial pitfalls.

According to the annual Teens and Personal Finance survey, a study of teens ages 13-18 conducted by Wake eld Research on behalf of Junior Achievement and MissionSquare Retirement’s Foundation, 45% of high schoolers took a personal nance or nancial literacy class at school. is is up from 31% in 2024, indicating the nation’s youth are interested in building a strong nancial foundation. What’s more, of the students who took their school’s curriculum, 64% found it extremely or very helpful, yet despite this increase, data reveals knowledge gaps remain. In fact, 42% of teens surveyed are terri ed they won’t have enough money to cover their future needs and goals. “ ere is so much for teens to absorb when learning about nances and planning for their future, they often struggle to envision what lies ahead,” said Andre Robinson, president and CEO of MissionSquare Retirement. “Offering engaging

programs that can boost nancial knowledge and decision-making skills can only help to inspire young individuals to build a strong foundation of lifelong nancial resilience.”

Consider discussing these economic topics with your teen to help make a positive impact on students’ financial readiness and get them ready for nancial decisions they’ll face in adulthood.

Mastering Saving and Budget-

ing

A good starting point for teens is to create a simple budget that tracks income and expenses. Because only 36% of teens surveyed save a part for their futures when they receive money, this can help them understand where money is going and identify areas they may be able to save for the future. is is particularly important considering 68% of teens agree that saving for retirement is something they can think about later in life.

Understanding Credit Credit is a powerful tool but can also be a source of nancial trouble if not managed properly. It’s essential to understand how nancial behaviors, like paying bills on time and keeping credit card balances low, impact their credit scores. A higher FICO score, which 80% of teens

surveyed had never heard of or did not fully understand, can lead to better interest rates and more favorable loan terms.

Managing Common Debt

Pitfalls

According to the survey, 43% of teens believe an interest rate of 18% on debt is manageable and can be paid o over time. However, it’s important to understand the true cost of debt and how interest rates can accumulate over time and lead to signi cant nancial strain. Establishing good debt management habits early, such as avoiding high-interest debt and paying o balances quickly, can lead to a healthier nancial future.

Investing and Planning Ahead

According to the survey, teenagers’ most appealing investing strategies are savings accounts, side hustles and keeping cash at home, and only 13% invest a portion of their money. Encouraging teens to learn about di erent types of investments, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds, can help them make informed decisions and begin to build long-term wealth.

For more information to help teens improve their nancial knowledge, visit ja.org.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Maya Hotels strives to deliver happiness through hospitality – from daily operations to long-term relationships with guests, employees, communities and partners.

Photo courtesy of Maya Hotels

independent of royal governors such as North Carolina’s Josiah Martin, who’d improperly disbanded the provincial legislature in early April.

So, the Mecklenburg Resolves declared that “all laws and commissions con rmed by or derived from the authority of the King and Parliament are annulled and vacated, and the former civil constitution of these colonies for the present wholly suspended.” It didn’t convey a complete and permanent break from Britain, however.

I’ve written extensively on the centuries-long debate about the so-called Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. It’s too complicated a tale to relate here, but the most likely scenario — I say this as a descendant of two Meck Dec signatories, John Queary and the aforementioned Adam Alexander — is that the committee arrived on May 19 with a draft of the resolves already in hand, then got word of the battles of Lexington and Concord and supplemented their work with at least extemporaneous words of de ance to angry spectators who later remembered them as a declaration of independence. Does that make me a believer or a skeptic? Yes! I embrace the duality. Whatever happened on or about May 20, 1775, the date well deserves its place on North Carolina’s state seal and ag — and our commemoration this week of its 250th anniversary.

John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His books “Mountain Folk,” “Forest Folk” and “Water Folk” combine epic fantasy with American history (FolkloreCycle.com).

Want to learn more

e Charlotte Museum of History opens a new exhibit, “MeckDec 250,” with artifacts and memorabilia and interactive displays. e museum, located at 3500 Shamrock Drive, is also o ering MeckDec 259 tours of its historic grounds at noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. May 24. Learn more at charlottemuseum.org.

May 23

Job Search

Matthews Library offers one-on-one help during Job Search Assistance. Register in advance. cmlibrary. org/locations/Matthews 10-11 a.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

Anime Club

The Anime Club meets to watch a few episodes at Matthews Library. e club is for teens. cmlibrary. org/locations/Matthews

3:30-4:30 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

Bike Night

Independence Harley-Davidson presents Bike Night with live music, a food truck and giveaways. independenceharley.com

6-9 p.m.; 9205 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews

May 24

Family Storytime

Children, ages 0-5, engage with stories and songs through Family Storytime at Matthews Library. cmlibrary.org/locations/ Matthews

9:30-10 a.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

Family Storytime

Families engage with stories and songs through Family Storytime at Mint Hill Library. Registration starts 30 minutes in person before the start of the event. cmlibrary.org/ locations/Mint-Hill

9:30-10 a.m.; 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill

Puzzle Swap

Matthews Library hosts a Library Puzzle Swap. Trade in 300-piece puzzles.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

cmlibrary.org/locations/ Matthews

10:30-11:30 a.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

Knitting Adults work on knitting projects during Knot for Knitting at Mint Hill Library. cmlibrary.org/ locations/Mint-Hill

11 a.m.-1 p.m.; 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill

Citizen Science

An ACEAP ambassador presents a program, “Everybody's a Scientist: How You Can Contribute to Real Research (Citizen Science)” at Matthews Library. Register in advance at cmlibrary.org/locations/ Matthews.

2-3 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

Film Screening

Aurora Starlit Cinemas screens the lm, “Spaceballs!” during Movie on the Patio at Carolina Beer Temple.

8-10 p.m.; 215 N. Ames St., Matthews

May 26

Memorial Day

American Legion Post 235 observes Memorial Day with a ceremony at Matthews Veterans Memorial Park. matthewspost235.

org 11 a.m.; 184 S. Trade St., Matthews

May 27

Family Storytime

Children, ages 0-5, engage with stories and songs through Family Storytime at Matthews Library. Register at the train desk within 15 minutes of the program starting. cmlibrary.

org/locations/Matthews

10:15-10:45 or 11-11:30

a.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

Family Storytime Families engage with stories and songs through Family Storytime at Mint Hill Library. Registration starts 30 minutes in person before the start of the event. cmlibrary.org/ locations/Mint-Hill

10:15-10:45 or 1111:30 a.m.; 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill

Chair Yoga

Synthia Gerson leads a Mindful Chair Yoga class for adults at Matthews Library. Register in advance at cmlibrary.org/locations/ Matthews.

1-1:45 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

Rookie Science Youth, ages 5-12, work on projects related to the oceans during Rookie Science: Protect Our Oceans at Mint Hill Library. cmlibrary.org/locations/ Mint-Hill

4:30-5:15 p.m.; 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill

STEAM 101 Youth, ages 9-18, build legendary landmarks during Matthews STEAM 101: Lego Around the World at Matthews Library. Register in advance at cmlibrary.org/locations/ Matthews.

6:30-7:30 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

May 28

Baby Storytime Children, ages 0-2, build

language and socialization skills in Baby Storytime at the Matthews Library. Register for the event 15 minutes before the program. cmlibrary.org/ locations/Matthews 9:15-9:45 a.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

Preschool Storytime

Children, ages 3-5, engage in stories and songs during Preschool Storytime at Mint Hill Library. Registration opens 30 minutes before the program starts. cmlibrary.org/locations/ Mint-Hill

11:15-11:45 a.m.; 6840

Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill

Baby Storytime

Children, ages 0-2, learn literacy skills through Baby and Toddler Storytime at Matthews Library. Register at the train desk within 15 minutes before the start. cmlibrary.org/ locations/Matthews 11:15-11:45 a.m. or noon12:30 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

Paws to Read

Children, ages 5-11, read to a volunteer therapy dog at the Matthews Library. Sign up for a 15-minute session upon arrival. Registration opens 15 minutes before the first session. cmlibrary.org/locations/ Matthews

3:30-4:30 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

May 29

Baby Storytime

Children, ages 0-2, learn literacy skills through Baby and Toddler Storytime at Matthews Library. Register at the train desk

within 15 minutes before the start. cmlibrary.org/ locations/Matthews

9:15-9:45 a.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

Storytime at Park

Mint Hill Library holds a Family Storytime with stories, songs and movement activities at Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park. cmlibrary.org/locations/ Mint-Hill

10-10:30 a.m.; 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Chess Club

Children, ages 5-11, learn how to play during Chess Club at Matthews Library. cmlibrary.org/locations/ Matthews

4-5 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

STEAM 101

Teens learn about artificial intelligence during a STEAM 101 program at the Matthews Library. Register in advance at cmlibrary.org/locations/ Matthews.

4:30-5:30 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

May 30

Beats ‘n Bites

Unknown Artist Band performs classic rock during the Beats ‘n Bites series at Stumptown Park. Food trucks and craft beer will be available. Bring chairs and blankets but no pets. Music starts at 6 p.m. e Town of Matthews presents the series from March to May as well as September and October. matthewsnc.gov/specialevents

5-9 p.m.; 120 S Trade St, Matthews

Be APOL1 Aware and Understand

How Genes Impact Kidney Health

Senior year of high school is a time for big changes for most people, but for Emani McConnell-Brent, she did not expect it would include changes to her health. After being rushed to the emergency room with severe stomach pain, McConnell-Brent learned the problem was her kidneys and she was diagnosed with a kidney disease called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). After her diagnosis, McConnell-Brent struggled to get the right medicines to treat her disease. She was encouraged to undergo a genetic test and discovered her FSGS was the result of APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD), a rapidly progressive genetic kidney disease that can cause kidney failure. The diagnosis brought McConnell-Brent some relief, both physically and emotionally.

“Knowing it’s genetic and knowing I’m taking care of myself makes a big difference in my mental state,” said McConnell-Brent, now 21 and an ambassador for the American Kidney Fund.

Everyone has two copies of the apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene – one from each parent – but Black Americans of West and Central African ancestry are more likely to have changes (variants or mutations) in their APOL1 gene that cause AMKD. This genetic form of kidney disease can develop even at a young age, in

otherwise healthy people, and can advance faster than other kidney diseases.

An estimated 13% of Black Americans have the two APOL1 gene variants that are associated with AMKD. Those who have variants in both copies of the APOL1 gene have a 1 in 5 chance of developing kidney disease.

“A lot of people don’t even know about how prevalent the APOL1 gene is in the African American community,” McConnell-Brent said.

Early diagnosis of AMKD can keep your kidneys working longer, delaying the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant.

If you have kidney damage, symptoms may not occur until your kidneys are close to failing. As kidney damage worsens, one or more of these symptoms may occur:

n Protein in urine

n Swelling in legs or weight gain

n Feeling weak or tired

n High blood pressure

The only way to get an official diagnosis for AMKD is through a genetic test. You can find more information about the risks and benefits of genetic testing online.

“If you got genetic testing, you would have the facts of what your genes are telling you,” McConnell-Brent said. “Your genes are telling you a story of what did happen, is happening and could happen.”

Become APOL1 Aware by learning how your genes impact your kidney health and help build awareness in your community by visiting KidneyFund.org/APOL1Aware.

Hot Wheels revs up the creativity

MONROE – Noel Santos’ custom 1954 Grumman Olson

Sunbeam Bread Truck stood out among the more than 140 cars competing at the Hot Wheels Legends Tour stop

May 17 at Walmart.

e traveling car show o ered custom car builders the chance to have their projects converted into the next Hot Wheels die-cast toy car.

Santos, who spent eight years restoring his bread truck, will advance to the national semi- nal later this year. His upgrades include custom metalwork across the vehicle mounted on a van frame from a 2008 Chevy Express. e bread truck sits on a 4-link suspension and includes a 6.0-liter LS V-8 engine.

Judges included Hot Wheels designers Eric Han and Paul Schmid.

LIVE MUSIC

Countdown begins for Kesha tour

CHARLOTTE – Multi-Platinum pop singer Kesha will visit North Carolina as part of her upcoming North American headline tour.

Kesha performs Aug. 3 at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh and Aug. 5 at PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte. Tickets are available now at keshao cial.com.

e tour coincides with the July 4 release of Kesha’s sixth studio album, “. (period),” via Kesha Records. e 11-song collection was conceived, co-produced and co-written by Kesha. She has been dropping singles for the past year, including “Boy Crazy,” “Delusional,” “Joyride” and “Yippee-Ki-Yay.” Kesha has tallied 10 top 10 singles, two number one albums and more than 3 billion streams over the course of her career.

May 23

• Amos’ Southend: Gump Fiction

• Don Pedro Mexican Restaurant: Solsiesta

• Evening Muse: Seth Walker & Ed Jurdi

• Grapes Bistro and Wine Bar: David Porter

• Great Wagon Road Distillery: Adam Daniels

• Neighborhood Theatre: Aneesa Strings

• Shep’s Bar & Grill: Jarret Raymond

• Small Bar: Carrie Ann

• Southern Range Brewing: Justin Moyar

• Stooges Pub & Grub: Queen City Siren

• The Fillmore: Lil Poppa

• The Trail House: Dusk Till Dawn

• The Underground: Raveena

May 24

• Americana Beer Co.: Comfortable Shirt

• Evening Muse: Nikias; Squawk & Revelry

• Grapes Bistro and Wine Bar: Shannon Lee & Tonya Wood

• Great Wagon Road Distillery: Coconut Groove Band

• Local Logic: Josh Filchuk

• Mary O’Neill’s Irish Pub: John Cz

• Moochies Tavern: Wonder Free

• OMB Ballantyne: Hot Pocket

• OMB LoSo: Motel Soap

• Peddlers Paradise Bartique: Johnny Suspect

• Pineville Tavern: Dusk Till Dawn

• Pour 64: Matthew Ablan

• Stooges Pub & Grub: Sweet Leaf

• The Trail House: Mike’d Up

May 25

• Evening Muse: Nordista Freeze

May 26

• Evening Muse: Open mic

• Neighborhood Theatre: West 22nd

May 27

• Evening Muse: Johnny Manchild & the

Poor Bastards

May 28

• Amos’ Southend: Emery

• Local Logic: DJ SweeTee

• Peddlers Paradise Bartique: Open mic

• PNC Music Pavilion: Halsey

• The Fillmore: Sir

• The Trail House: Dustin Yager

May 29

• Great Wagon Road Distillery: Uptown Dueling Pianos

• The Amp Ballantyne: Dark Star Orchestra

May 30

• Americana Beer Co.: Jeff Rogers

• Amos’ Southend: Red Leather

• Evening Muse: An Evening Extreme; The White Horse

• Franklin Court Grille: Jam Central

• Grapes Bistro and Wine Bar: Carrie Ann

• Middle James Brewing: Analog Crash

• Moochies Tavern: Danielle Hewitt; Kids in America

• OMB Ballantyne: Just Serendipity & Friends

• OMB LoSo: Gin N Sonic

• PNC Music Pavilion: Keith Urban

• Southern Range Brewing: Dylan Allen

• Stooges Pub & Grub: House of Hair

• The Fillmore: Young Nudy

• The Trail House: Edison Overdrive

• Visulite Theatre: Songs From the Road Band

Live Music Venues Charlotte

• Amos’ Southend: 1423 S. Tryon St.

• Evening Muse: 3227 N. Davidson St.

• Neighborhood Theatre: 511 E. 36th St.

• OMB Ballantyne: 15025 Bowl St.

• OMB LoSo: 4150 Yancey Road

• PNC Music Pavilion: 707 Pavilion Blvd.

• Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre: 1000

NC Music Factory Blvd.

• The Amp Ballantyne: 11115 Upper Ave.

• The Fillmore: 820 Hamilton St.

• The Underground: 820 Hamilton St.

• Visulite Theatre: 1615 Elizabeth Ave.

Grapes Bistro and Wine Bar: 6461

Mac’s Speed Shop (Matthews): 142 E.

Noel Santos’ custom 1954 Grumman Olson Sunbeam Bread Truck was the star of the show. Photos courtesy of Hot Wheels Legends Tour

The Walmart parking lot turned into a showcase of Hot Wheels displays and custom cars on May 17.

Source: Culinary.net

CLASSIFIEDS

Augusta IT Solutions LLC, a Charlotte, NC based Global Analytics Services Firm has multiple openings for JOB ID 11720: Software Developer. Education and Experience requirements along with remuneration as provided on the website. Travel/relocation may be required. Details at https://augustaitsolutions. com/. Send resume to: hr@augustaitsolutions. com, including the JOB ID. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Transportation Planner 5; CDM Smith (Charlotte, NC). Coord data acquisition of transportation demogaphics, econ, land use &/or environ data. Perform traffic analysis & forecast current transportation projs. Roadway traffic & transit analyses & modeling. WFH up to 3 dys/ wk. 5-10% domestic travel req. Must have at least master’s or equiv in Civil Eng’g, Urban/ Comm/Regional Planning or rltd fld & 6 yrs exp as Transportation Planner or rltd role (OR bach or equiv & 7 yrs progressive exp). Must have 5 yrs exp w/: traffic engineering; modeling exp utilizing VISSIM & Synchro traffic simulation software; traffic safety analysis & generating crash maps utilizing ArcGIS; & 3 yrs exp in stat modeling utilizing tools like SPSS, R &/or Python. Apply at www.cdmsmith.com/en/Careers (Req. # 41384BR).

Elementary Teacher, 4th-5th position available in Monroe, NC. Duties incl: Establish & maintain positive relationships w/ students, parents & colleagues. Foster an environment of open communication & support. Instruct students individually & in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, &

demonstrations. Confer w/ parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, & administrators to resolve students’ behavioral & academic problems. Create a sense of community in the classroom where every child feels he or she belongs & is accepted. Prep materials & classrooms for class activities. Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, & projects & communicate those objectives to students. Adapt teaching methods & instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs. Maintain professionalism in all areas. Incorporate the constructivism philosophy of edu into classroom instruction by implmtg various student-centered learning methodologies. Maintain accurate & complete student records & prep reports on students & activities as required by Academy administration. Use grade-level appropriate methods & materials to educate students in all subject areas. Impmt regular, periodic classroom assessment methods & techniques. Present information in a variety of ways, emphasizing the relevance of class material to the Christian faith & in the world beyond the classroom. Demonstrate appropriate pacing & delivery w/ sufficient time to ensure all students understand the material being taught. Perform other similar, related tasks, as necessary. Reqmts: Must have a Bach’s deg in English, or Edu, or a related field, or the foreign equiv. Must have at least 12 months prior F/T exp as a teacher for any grade level 1 - 5 (elementary school). Any suitable combo of edu, training, or exp is acceptable. Send resumes to: Covenant Christian Academy of Monroe NC, 2706 Secrest Shortcut Rd., Monroe, NC 28110.

debug, & doc moderately complex application solutions that meet defined Capital Mkts Securities business reqmts & meets the enterprise & Capital Mkts specific performance & Securities Industry architectural standards. Focus on applications & business domain expertise specific to the Capital Mkts technology platform. Must have Bach’s deg in Comp Sci, Info Systems, or related tech’l field. Must have 2 yrs of exp in IT positions performing/utilizing the following: analyzing, dsgng, coding, testing, debugging, & documenting moderately complex application solutions that meet defined Capital Mkts Securities business reqmts & meet the enterprise & Capital Mkts specific performance & Securities Industry architectural standards; working on Capital Mkts initiatives in an Agile Delivery Methodology w/ a focus on IT Delivery; applying Capital Mkts domain expertise, w/ specific knowl of: at least 2 of the following product domains: Foreign Exchange, IR Derivatives, Commodity Derivatives, &/or Equity Derivatives; & at least 2 of the following value chains: Collateral mgmt, Sales/Trading/Research, Settlements, Fin’l mgmt /Product Acctg, Risk, &/or Credit; & utilizing exp w/: Calypso, Java , Spring, Message Queue, J2EE /Jboss, WebServices, Javascript, SQL Server, Oracle, & Github. Position may be eligible to work hybrid/remotely but is based out of & reports to Truist offices in Charlotte, NC. Must be available to travel to Charlotte, NC regularly for meetings & reviews w/ manager & project teams w/in 24hrs’ notice. Apply online (https://careers.truist. com/) or email resume to: Paige.Whitesell@ Truist.com (Ref Job# R0102572)

Multiple Positions, Charlotte NC Quality Assurance Analyst- Under s’vision, be involved in verification, validation, & process improve activities incl manual & auto s/ware testing; test planning, test case writing, scripting, test execution & test reporting. Salary $63,690/yr. Req. Bachelor’s (or foreign equi. degree) in Comp. Sci., Comp. Info. Sys., Electrical Engg, Comp. Apps., Bus. Admin., Engg. (any field), Math., MIS or rel w/ knowl of at least 7 tech’s. from the following list: NOSQL, Spring, Struts, Hibernate, C, C++, C#, JSP, Web Services, CSS, XML, XSL, HTML, JavaScript, Oracle, Java, J2EE, UNIX, AJAX, Visual Basic, Appium, Selenium WebDriver, JMeter, TestNG, JSF, Informatica, Business Objects, SQL Server, WebLogic, Crystal Reports, LINUX, Eclipse, JUNIT, UML, .Net, MVC, Singleton; COBOL and TOAD. WCF, Perl, PL/SQL, WebSphere, ASP. Net, ADO.Net, Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, GitHub, GitLab, SVN, Postman, SonarQube, Jira, Trello, Mantis, Jenkins, Quickbuild; Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, AWS, Azure.

Business Analyst - Create & maintain (data entry, data audit) a d/base on sales & client relationship mngmnt the company; analyze sales data & generate reports for bus strategic decisions to grow bus & profit; as well as validate, extract, clean, manipulate, & analyze data, generate reports for mngmnt team. Salary $84,032/yr. Req’s Bachelor’s (or frgn equi. degree) Business Admn., Accounting, or rel w/

knowl of the following skills: Cost Accounting, Finc’l Mngmnt, Data Analysis & Stats as well as Bus Strategy.

Data Analyst - Analyze high volumes of data from multiple sources & provides recs to company based on data trends; analyze previous data to predict sales and support sales & marketing teams to devel effective strategies. Req’s Master’s degree (or foreign equi. degree) Comp Sci, Marketing Analytics, Math or rel w/ knowl of at least 5 of the following skills: Tableau, SQL, R, Python, Google Analytics, Microsoft Suite, Canva, SPSS or SAS.

Business Development Analyst - Conduct research on the market conditions of IT areas to ID strategic bus ops; collect & analyze market d/bases using finc’l/stat models & GIS application to forecast IT marketing & sales trends; get involved in project proposals; prep & analyze bus reports for mngmnt reviews; devel & formulate bus systs in conformance w/ bus devel initiatives. Trav to var unanticpt project worksites loc t/out the US. Salary $130,021/yr. Req’s Master’s (or foreign equi. degree) in Bus, Econ, Geoscience, Sustainable International Devel or rel w/ knowl of performing qualitative/quantitative research; data collection & analysis; as well as project planning & devel. Apply PNK Connections, LLC 301 McCullough Drive, Suite 400, Charlotte, NC-28262

Spanish Teacher (6-8), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Charlotte, NC. Prep Span lang lssn & del mid sch (6-8) stud instr. M-F, 9:15a - 4:15p w/ occ aft hrs. Reqs bach in Ed/Span/rel/ equiv. Mst have/elig for NC Span K-12 Tchng Lic. Reqs prof in Span as demnstrtd w/ NC Span K-12 Tchng Lic. Hires mst consnt to drg scrn & bg chck. Apply: resume to robert.ellyson@cms.k12.nc.us & ref#116798.

Software Engineer III, F/T at Truist Bank (Charlotte, NC) Deliver highly complex solutions w/ significant system linkages, dependencies, associated risk. Lead & perform dvlpmt efforts such as analysis, dsgn, coding/creating, & testing. Must have Bach’s deg in Comp Sci, Comp Engg, or related tech’l field. Must have 6 yrs of progressive exp in s/ware engg or IT Consulting positions performing/utilizing the following: applying in-depth knowl in info systems & ability to identify, apply, & implmt IT best practices; understanding of key business processes & competitive strategies related to the IT function; planning & managing projects & solving complex problems by applying best practices; providing direction & mentoring less exp’d teammates; & utilizing exp w/: Informatica Power Center-Data Integration Platform, WhereScape RED, PowerShell Scripting on Unix, Python, Oracle, SQL, PL/SQL, DB2, Visual Basic, Java Scripting, & Java. Position may be eligible to work in a hybrid remote model & is based out of & reports to Truist offices in Charlotte, NC. Applicants must be able to work onsite at Truist offices in Charlotte, NC at least 4 days/wk.

Software Engineer, CapMkts, F/T at Truist Bank (Charlotte, NC) Analyze, dsgn, code, test,